Second P.A. force starts training

A second battalion of Palestinian Authority security forces started U.S.-funded training.

Some 500 Palestinian troops crossed into Jordan on Thursday for the training, Reuters reported.

A battalion trained last year has been deployed in the Jenin region.

U.S. officials, who oversee the training carried out by Europeans and Jordanians, say it has been a success; Israeli security officials agree that the police have created better standards of living for the Palestinians, which could spur support for the moderates in control of the Palestinian Authority, but add that improvements in the force’s cooperation in combating terrorism have been modest.